Lock Repair in Nashville, TN

Weather at Middle Tennessee doors

Nashville sits in Davidson County, in the state's Middle grand division. NOAA's climate summary for Tennessee describes abundant precipitation and warm, humid air from the Gulf of Mexico, and each shows up at a door in its own way.

• Humid air. Wood doors and frames take on moisture and swell, so a deadbolt that throws cleanly in winter can drag against the strike in a damp summer. Adjusting the strike plate or tightening hinges often fixes it without a new lock.
• Ice. Water that reaches a keyway and turns to ice can keep a key from entering or turning. Use a lock de-icer; hot water can turn to ice again deeper inside the cylinder.
• Floodwater. Nashville set a two-day record of 13.6 inches of rain on May 1 and 2, 2010. A lock that sat in floodwater can corrode inside, so once the door dries, have it cleaned or replaced.

Older hardware worth keeping

Germantown's homes were built between the 1840s and the 1920s, so an original or long-serving lock may still be on the door. Worn springs, loose spindles, sagging latches and misaligned strikes can often be repaired, and a repair keeps a period lock in service for owners who want the door left as it is. If a lock keeps failing after repairs, lock replacement may be the better path.

Simple upkeep

1. Use a dry lubricant made for locks in the keyway a few times a year. Heavy oil collects grit.
2. Tighten loose trim screws before they strip.
3. After a change of season, close the door and check that the bolt slides fully into the strike without pushing on the door.

What to report in a repair request

• Which lock and door, and the symptom: key will not go in, key will not turn, latch sticks or bolt drags.
• When it started, for example after a cold snap, a damp week or high water.
• A photo of the lock face, and one showing where the bolt meets the strike.

For more on Germantown and the other neighborhoods mentioned here, see Nashville.